Jamieson takes Trump call after ending 14-year title wait
- Published
Nexo Championship, Trump International Golf Links
-11 S Jamieson (Sco); -9 M Jordan (Eng); -7 A Sullivan (Eng); -6 Q Vidal (Spa), M Kinhult (Swe), K Nakajima (Japan)
Earning a first DP World Tour win in 14 years - and effectively saving his job by doing so - would be enough to disturb the composure of most golfers.
But as Scott Jamieson tried to come to terms with ending his drought at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, the 42-year-old Scot found himself speaking to President Donald Trump on a video call.
It has become tradition that the United States president contacts the winner at Trump International Golf Links in the immediate aftermath of their success.
And Glaswegian Jamieson was the bewildered recipient of the call this time, following compatriot Grant Forrest last year.
"He was very complimentary and it sounds like he was actually watching it," Jamieson told BBC Sport Scotland. "He said he was following along, so it was really cool... I mean he is the President of the United States."
That Jamieson kept his shape over a tense final few holes is testment to his resolve.
The Scot posted a final round 67 to come from three shots back and beat England's overnight leader Matthew Jordan by a couple of strokes.
'Trump said he was watching and was pleased for me'
He finished on 11 under par, having edged in front after then-leader South Africa's Shaun Norris was given a bizarre two-shot penalty for kicking away a loose divot on the fairway.
It was just Jamieson's second DP World Tour triumph, with his last success coming in 2012 at the Nelson Mandela Championship.
And given he looked at significant risk of losing his card, it has given Jamieson the security of knowing his playing rights are secure for next season at least.
"I didn't realise it had been 14 years," he conceded. "I practice every day and explore different ways to get better and sometimes it is like you are just banging your head against a wall. So the odd win here and there makes it all worthwhile.
"There have been times where I 've thought 'I might be losing my job here' so thankfully I don't need to worry about that for over the next few weeks.
"And hopefully this may open up some doors to kick on and try and push up the ladder."
Defending champion Forrest endured a tough Sunday, with a score of 80 taking him to a 10 over total.
But fellow Scots Euan Walker and Connor Syme were among those in a share of 10th place on four under.
